I know I'm morally good; I have a little paper that says so

Spent today, and this week, getting my documents in order: taking ID pictures, getting a certified true copy of my birth certificate, signing up for SSS (social security... system?), getting a TIN (tax identification number), applying for Philhealth, making a copy of my passport, digging up my transcript of records, going through a medical checkup, obtaining barangay clearance, and getting cleared by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation).

So, having proven that I'm of sound mind and body, have no criminal records, can travel overseas if required, am of good moral character, have been entered into the system properly and thus am taxable/insured/<adjective applicable to social security>eligible for benefits (thanks cindyg!), I can start work on Monday.

This week has been a blur of standing in line and signing stuff. The NBI claiming section had the longest line of them all, but NBI is not as bad as I thought. Everyone told me it would take the whole day, but the entire process (including waiting in line to pay, get fingerprinted, have my photo taken, and then claim the clearance form) barely took half a day. I'm amused by the fingerprinting guys over at NBI.

The SSS office had a mostly dried out stamp pad in the back of the room, which you could use to stamp your thumbprint to the form. I guess this wasn't good enough for the NBI; they had no less than three guys who efficiently and briskly inked your fingers, affixed your fingerprints to the form, and then offered up moist towelettes for 5 pesos afterwards.

Claiming the clearance form took the longest, since there was only one window where you could claim it from. The line was long; I stood there for almost an hour. Brought a book, though, so it was nothing ;-)

(Then I found out that my first employer is supposed to take care of my TIN and SSS for me -- oops!)